Part of the trick is finding an exercise that’s actually enjoyable to do so that you don’t care how hard you’re working or how much time has passed. Time is gonna pass extra slow on a treadmill and feel really difficult, if you’re not enjoying it. I find that the bicycle is that sweet spot for me, I do it because it’s fun not because of my health.
In my 30s I lived in Seattle and rode bikes everywhere. I was proud on the day I rode a bmx from the stadium up and over to the other side of Capitol Hill where I lived. It’s only a 3 mile (4.8 km) trip but with a 400 ft (121.9 m) change in elevation.
Awesome. If I saw someone 10 years older than me absolutely tearing up a path in the woods, pushing themselves the way I remember biking for fun, I’d be nothing short of inspired.
I bike 50 miles a day (in summer, at least) and I fucking hate getting passed by the guys that look like they’re in their 80s. I just tell myself they’re on an e-bike, which might even be true sometimes.
I signed up for a bike event that really pushed my limits and the youngest person who passed me had to be about 50. Apparently it’s a hobby that’s very popular with middle-aged men and retirees! Granted there’s a reason the MAMIL acronym exists (Middle Aged Man in Lycra)
If it’s something you both enjoy and that is good for your health, you need to double-ignore any “haters”. They aren’t going to live in your head with your future body, so fuck 'em.
Try a workout program based on some of the college rowing programs. I personally love rowing because it is way easier to switch between ‘I’m going to die’ mode and ‘nice, easy rest’ meters. Running and biking just don’t have the fun hand pulling that rowing does.
The program that my crewmates are following is from a guy that does 12+ workouts a week. It’s just insane (and he acknowledges it in his explanation of it: plan, remarks on plan)
You might find the fun in switching between the hard and soft meters, or you might find it’s like the bike and not for you.
I have an exercise bike at home, so I’ve taken to dragging it into the living room and playing video games while I do an hour of zone 2. I end up finishing my hour before I even realize it; plus, trying not to get curbstomped in Elden Ring is incredibly conducive to keeping your heart rate up.
I wouldn’t mind biking if I didn’t live in a city. Years ago back when I was going to college, I decided to ride my bike the one mile to school and made it about 2 weeks before crashing to avoid being hit by a car.
Also, it isn’t better in an American countryside, unless you like semis blasting past at 55mph giving you zero room while you ride on a nearly non-existent shoulder. I’ve been there. It isn’t fun, though it does get the adrenaline pumping. Also, things are way further apart so it’s a lot more biking to get anywhere. God bless the US of A.
Before someone says “biking is also bad in XYZ location:” Of course there are also other places in the world that don’t have bike infrastructure, but America is kinda the most famous for it, especially considering the country’s wealth.
I definitely agree with you about riding on country roads, but I love in the PNW and was thinking more about being closer to mountain bike trails out in the woods as far away from cars as I can be.
There are also some cities around that have good bike infrastructure where they’re at least common enough in the city that people watch out for them or even better there are dedicated bike paths up on the curb so you’re not just separated from traffic by a white strip of paint on the ground.
I’ve gotta say, biking in NW Louisiana / E Texas was fucking fantastic. I could do 60 mile rides on country roads and not see a human being the entire time. And there were only a couple of months every year where the heat would kill you.
Ahh, yeah, logging roads and the likes, suuuper rural stuff. And yeah, I live in Spokane, and the bike infrastructure is fragmented, but not as bad as you’d think.
Same same same. Once I fell in love with cycling it just became something I do. It’s only exercise incidentally.
Not like I’m super fit or anything but I am healthy and I have a hobby I enjoy that is also good for me.
If you haven’t found something like this for you, there isn’t anything wrong with you, you just haven’t found it yet.
I love biking, but the ride to work kinda sucks. Either I have to turn the 2 mile ride into 8 miles to avoid cars, or I have to ride in a narrow bike lane on the side of a 4 lane road. I do dream of better infrastructure.
What has been working awesome is riding the tandem to our weekly trivia watering hole, it’s almost entirely through suburbs and on Spokane’s incredible Centennial trail. I also don’t mind if we don’t take the most efficient route, as it’s all for leisure. Of course I’m probably still at a net gain on calories haha, it’s a 4 mile round trip, fairly level, and that just ain’t enough to cover two beers and a burger.
That’s a good point. It’s definitely hard to get motivated to spend 45 minutes cycling to work in the morning when I could just hop in the car and be there in under 10. If there were some magical way to drive to work and cycle home, I’d do that in a heartbeat. I’m always in more of a cycling mood in the afternoon, once I’m more awake.
Part of the trick is finding an exercise that’s actually enjoyable to do so that you don’t care how hard you’re working or how much time has passed. Time is gonna pass extra slow on a treadmill and feel really difficult, if you’re not enjoying it. I find that the bicycle is that sweet spot for me, I do it because it’s fun not because of my health.
I like riding a bmx bike but I’m also pushing 40 so I look like an old crackhead who just stole a kids BMX bike if I do.
Do it, nobody gives a shit more than you do
In my 30s I lived in Seattle and rode bikes everywhere. I was proud on the day I rode a bmx from the stadium up and over to the other side of Capitol Hill where I lived. It’s only a 3 mile (4.8 km) trip but with a 400 ft (121.9 m) change in elevation.
Awesome. If I saw someone 10 years older than me absolutely tearing up a path in the woods, pushing themselves the way I remember biking for fun, I’d be nothing short of inspired.
I bike 50 miles a day (in summer, at least) and I fucking hate getting passed by the guys that look like they’re in their 80s. I just tell myself they’re on an e-bike, which might even be true sometimes.
I signed up for a bike event that really pushed my limits and the youngest person who passed me had to be about 50. Apparently it’s a hobby that’s very popular with middle-aged men and retirees! Granted there’s a reason the MAMIL acronym exists (Middle Aged Man in Lycra)
If it’s something you both enjoy and that is good for your health, you need to double-ignore any “haters”. They aren’t going to live in your head with your future body, so fuck 'em.
So sports?
If sports is that thing for you, yeah. I actually hate most sports.
That’s why I take an edible and then run the treadmill.
Whatever works!
I’ve never found an exercise I enjoy. The closest I got was DDR, but the home pads suck and the arcades cost too much.
I do the treadmill because I can let my mind and hand set the pace. If I’m on a bike, I won’t get my HR into zone 2, because I’m lazy.
Ever try a rowing machine?
I do rows for resistance/strength training, but I don’t think I’ve ever used a rowing machine for cardio.
I have a Concept2 and it’s great. Once you get going it’s almost meditative
Try a workout program based on some of the college rowing programs. I personally love rowing because it is way easier to switch between ‘I’m going to die’ mode and ‘nice, easy rest’ meters. Running and biking just don’t have the fun hand pulling that rowing does.
The program that my crewmates are following is from a guy that does 12+ workouts a week. It’s just insane (and he acknowledges it in his explanation of it: plan, remarks on plan)
You might find the fun in switching between the hard and soft meters, or you might find it’s like the bike and not for you.
I have an exercise bike at home, so I’ve taken to dragging it into the living room and playing video games while I do an hour of zone 2. I end up finishing my hour before I even realize it; plus, trying not to get curbstomped in Elden Ring is incredibly conducive to keeping your heart rate up.
I usually watch recorded episodes of Antiques Roadshow while riding my exercycle. I have no idea why that works but it does.
I wouldn’t mind biking if I didn’t live in a city. Years ago back when I was going to college, I decided to ride my bike the one mile to school and made it about 2 weeks before crashing to avoid being hit by a car.
Ftfy.
Also, it isn’t better in an American countryside, unless you like semis blasting past at 55mph giving you zero room while you ride on a nearly non-existent shoulder. I’ve been there. It isn’t fun, though it does get the adrenaline pumping. Also, things are way further apart so it’s a lot more biking to get anywhere. God bless the US of A.
Before someone says “biking is also bad in XYZ location:” Of course there are also other places in the world that don’t have bike infrastructure, but America is kinda the most famous for it, especially considering the country’s wealth.
I definitely agree with you about riding on country roads, but I love in the PNW and was thinking more about being closer to mountain bike trails out in the woods as far away from cars as I can be.
There are also some cities around that have good bike infrastructure where they’re at least common enough in the city that people watch out for them or even better there are dedicated bike paths up on the curb so you’re not just separated from traffic by a white strip of paint on the ground.
I’ve gotta say, biking in NW Louisiana / E Texas was fucking fantastic. I could do 60 mile rides on country roads and not see a human being the entire time. And there were only a couple of months every year where the heat would kill you.
Ahh, yeah, logging roads and the likes, suuuper rural stuff. And yeah, I live in Spokane, and the bike infrastructure is fragmented, but not as bad as you’d think.
The problem with logging roads is the logging trucks.
Source: I live on a logging road that I thought would be a lot more quiet. How many damn tress are up that there hill?
Same same same. Once I fell in love with cycling it just became something I do. It’s only exercise incidentally. Not like I’m super fit or anything but I am healthy and I have a hobby I enjoy that is also good for me.
If you haven’t found something like this for you, there isn’t anything wrong with you, you just haven’t found it yet.
I love biking, but the ride to work kinda sucks. Either I have to turn the 2 mile ride into 8 miles to avoid cars, or I have to ride in a narrow bike lane on the side of a 4 lane road. I do dream of better infrastructure.
What has been working awesome is riding the tandem to our weekly trivia watering hole, it’s almost entirely through suburbs and on Spokane’s incredible Centennial trail. I also don’t mind if we don’t take the most efficient route, as it’s all for leisure. Of course I’m probably still at a net gain on calories haha, it’s a 4 mile round trip, fairly level, and that just ain’t enough to cover two beers and a burger.
Won’t lie that 8 mile detour sounds like a rather nice option. You’d be surprised how quick you can get used to that kind of distance.
That’s a good point. It’s definitely hard to get motivated to spend 45 minutes cycling to work in the morning when I could just hop in the car and be there in under 10. If there were some magical way to drive to work and cycle home, I’d do that in a heartbeat. I’m always in more of a cycling mood in the afternoon, once I’m more awake.
I was going to suggest putting a bike rack on the car but I forgot a key detail there…
Then I’d have to put a car rack on the bike for the ride home :p